Diamond exports soften on sluggish market

According to financial statistics released by the Bank of Botswana, the country exported $846 million worth of diamonds in the first quarter of 2015 compared to over $919m in the same period in 2014 while the first quarter exports were also 20 percent lower than last year’s.

The decline in rough diamond exports is in line with the glut being experienced in the diamond pipeline where overstocking of polished stones is forcing producers to trim output.